‘I am better qualified than any other politician to contest polls’ – CBK

Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga says that she has a right and qualifications to contest elections more than many other politicians.

Addressing a Bodhi pooja ceremony at Siriwardhanarama Vihara in Henepitamulla, Yakkala organised by Gampaha Deputy Mayor Ajith Basnayake to mark her 70th birthday, former President Kumaratunga said: “I have not done anything wrong. I have not committed theft. I don’t have blood on our hands. Therefore, I am better qualified than anyone else to contest elections.”

She said some politicians were boasting that they had made Sri Lanka the miracle of Asia, but the crime rate had increased drastically during the last ten years. “The number of murders, rapes and child abuse has increased as never before. Sri Lanka has become the heroin hub of south Asia.”

The ex-President said that when she came to power in 1994 priority had been given to education. “We reformed the education sector and achieved many of our goals for the benefit of our children. Education is the most important thing that we can give to our children. We strengthened free education in the country in keeping with the vision of Father of Free Education, Dr. C. W. W. Kannangara. But, the education sector collapsed during the last ten years.”

Former State Minister Pandu Bandaranayake, Councillors of the Gampaha Municipal Council Premasiri Kariyawasam, Wasantha Gunawardena also addressed the gathering.